THE TOP FIVE

THE TOP FIVE

1. Grey Goose France

This French vodka is made with water from the Gente Springs, where the water cascades over porous limestone, a natural purifier. The grains used are from the breadbasket region of France. Grey Goose is column distilled in small batches and each bottle is handmade and depicts the grey goose in flight, with the French Alps in the background. The liquor has a smoky aroma, with hints of mint and grain. The flavor is off-dry, has a moderate bite and has notes of wheat and cocoa bean. The vodka was rated #1 by the Beverage Testing Institute of Chicago, receiving a rating of 96 out of a possible 100. Its highest previous ranking in a Russian Life Taste-Off was 2nd place in 1998.

2. Cristall Russia

This pure Russian vodka is a leading premium vodka exported by Moscow’s top vodka distillery. Formerly sold under the brand name “Stolichnaya Cristall,” this vodka is double-distilled in a process that is five times slower than ordinary vodkas and bottles only the best vodka from the center of the distillation tank. With a nose of rose, dry cereal and cream, this is a superior vodka. It has won several tasting competitions and has placed second in three successive Russian Life Taste-Offs, from 1999-2001).

3. Krolewska Poland

The name of this new entry to the Russian Life competition translates to “king.” The wheat-based vodka is distilled four times and has reputedly been enjoyed by the Royal Polish family for centuries. The vodka is brewed by Polmos Zielona Gora distillery, one of Poland’s largest, which produces over 20 varieties of vodka. The bottle features a beautiful stained-glass window design.

4. Youri Dolgoruki Russia

This ultra-premium vodka is distilled at Moscow’s oldest and most famous distillery, Cristall. The vodka is named for the founder of Moscow and is distilled four times according to a very rigid, secret recipe. It is then blended with glacier water and filtered through native Russian birch.

5. Finlandia Finland

Finlandia is made from locally grown grains (select barley) and natural spring water filtered through glacial moraine rock. The liquor apparently requires no chemical filtration and does not use chemically treated water. The result is a well-balanced and blended vodka that is deeply flavored. It is semi-sweet with creamy, biscuity flavors, with a hint of corn. Kindred Spirits gave Finlandia a 4-star (highly recommended) rating. This vodka won the gold medal in the 1999 Russian Life Vodka Taste-Off.

Sources: Vermont Liquor Control Board; Kindred Spirits by F. Paul Pacult (Hyperion, New York, New York, 1997), Sante magazine, May/June 2000, Company information and advertising.